Draft environmental impact statement for proposed Southwest Transitway now available

As crews continue work on the Central Corridor light-rail line, plans for a Southwest light-rail line are moving forward. Today, the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Southwest Transitway was released, which starts a 60-day public comment period.

The Southwest Transitway is a proposed 15-mile light-rail line linking Minneapolis with St. Louis Park, Hopkins, Minnetonka and Eden Prairie. Public comment on the DEIS will inform preliminary engineering on the project, which is scheduled to begin in early 2013.

You are encouraged to take a look at the DEIS and share your thoughts on the project. The DEIS helps decision makers assess the effect the transit line would have on the community. It documents the need and purpose of the project and offers a discussion of alternatives considered.

Public meetings

Three public hearings are being held by Hennepin County to discuss the DEIS. Each one will be preceded by an open house, where you can learn more about Southwest Transitway DEIS.